Well, here's my version anyway:
1. Eric Clapton. A dedicated student, inventive interpreter and astonishing improviser. Quite simply: the best.
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Incredible speed and energy - and man did he beat up that guitar! But always musical.
3. Mark Knopfler. Rockabilly, country, spanish, folk, blues, rock. Knopfler can do it all.
4. David Gilmour. His music is the furthest from the simple blues and rock that I love, but can Mr. Gilmour ever make that Strat sing!
5. Bonnie Raitt. No, she's not Duane Allman or Sonny Landreth, just the slide player with the tastiest licks, period.
6. Angus Young. Biting solos, amazing speed, and the best vibrato going. Angus rocks!
7. George Harrison. Strong as they already were, was there any song that George's guitar playing didn't improve?
8. Jimi Hendrix. The quintessential guitar hero, a huge influence on everyone that followed, Jimi's power to surprise and astonish is unsurpassed to this day.
9. B. B. King. Simple. Powerful. Perfect.
10. Mike Campbell. Never a show off (well, not on record anyway), Campbell keeps his licks simple, to the point, and 100% aligned with the song.
There is a big range in styles, and, some might say, technical prowess in this list. But each one of these fabulous guitarists share one important trait: they are musical. Their guitar work fits the music.
And that's always the point, isn't it?
1. Eric Clapton. A dedicated student, inventive interpreter and astonishing improviser. Quite simply: the best.
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Incredible speed and energy - and man did he beat up that guitar! But always musical.
3. Mark Knopfler. Rockabilly, country, spanish, folk, blues, rock. Knopfler can do it all.
4. David Gilmour. His music is the furthest from the simple blues and rock that I love, but can Mr. Gilmour ever make that Strat sing!
5. Bonnie Raitt. No, she's not Duane Allman or Sonny Landreth, just the slide player with the tastiest licks, period.
6. Angus Young. Biting solos, amazing speed, and the best vibrato going. Angus rocks!
7. George Harrison. Strong as they already were, was there any song that George's guitar playing didn't improve?
8. Jimi Hendrix. The quintessential guitar hero, a huge influence on everyone that followed, Jimi's power to surprise and astonish is unsurpassed to this day.
9. B. B. King. Simple. Powerful. Perfect.
10. Mike Campbell. Never a show off (well, not on record anyway), Campbell keeps his licks simple, to the point, and 100% aligned with the song.
There is a big range in styles, and, some might say, technical prowess in this list. But each one of these fabulous guitarists share one important trait: they are musical. Their guitar work fits the music.
And that's always the point, isn't it?
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